Has browning stopped?

[Maurice]

Any test to check to determine if a cold browned barrel has stopped rusting? I did the backing soda scrub, hot water flush, motor oil coat and rest thing process. Just wiped off the heavy oil with a coarse cloth and got rust colored film . A second rub down with a clean coarse cloth shows little or no rust. What might indicate that I need to repeat the basic process before applying my finish coat of oil?

[L. Akers]

My opinion--if your barrel is still rusting, you are not done browning yet.  The "indication" you inquired of would be rust.

[rich pierce]

It will settle down. If you've got a good even deep colored finish you're done. That surface rust will diminish down to nothing. Keep rubbing.

[PPatch]

It will settle down. If you've got a good even deep colored finish you're done. That surface rust will diminish down to nothing. Keep rubbing.

Great answer Maurice. I would only add that browning helps retard future rusting, so keep that barrel surface oiled with a thin coat from now on.

dp

dave

[seniorsgt]

has anyone used Barricade?

[Caprock]

When you really want it to stop suspend it in a metal tank and boil it.  Add some baking soda to it too.  I found an old piece of  heavy duty guttering and closed up the ends.  A piece of 5in or so metal pipe would do too.

[Dennis Glazener]

I did the backing soda scrub, hot water flush, motor oil coat and rest thing process. Just wiped off the heavy oil with a coarse cloth and got rust colored film . A second rub down with a clean coarse cloth shows little or no rust. What might indicate that I need to repeat the basic process before applying my finish coat of oil?

I suspect the problem is rust residue from the browning that he did. Depending on how heavy the rust was, even if the rusting has stopped (baking soda), you will get residue that easily could show for several "rub-downs". I would keep rubbing down with oil before I would get too carried away trying to stop rusting that may or may not be occurring.

I like to use an old terry cloth wash rag or some fine Scotch brite.
Dennis

[Dennis Glazener]

When you really want it to stop suspend it in a metal tank and boil it.  Add some baking soda to it too.  I found an old piece of  heavy duty guttering and closed up the ends.  A piece of 5in or so metal pipe would do too.
Modify message

I would be concerned about blacking the barrel with this process.
Dennis

[rich pierce]

Dennis is right, this is the process for turning the color to black or blue-black.

[Daryl]

Rust blue is probably the very best finish of all, for durability.

[Chris Evrard]

has anyone used Barricade?

Barricade is great. We used it on all guns at the gun store I worked in as a 20something. Thousands of guns. It was called "Sheath" back then, but still the same product. To me it is still the quintessential "gun smell" I use it on all my personal arms to this day.

[Don Stith]

I guess we all have our favorite way of doing things. I make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Then I apply a heavy layer of the paste to the entire barrel and let it dry overnite. Then I scrub it with hot tap water, followed by oil.  Never have experienced after rust with this approach

[Caprock]

On the first rifle I built the  acid browning solution from Wahkon Bay  couldnt be stopped by any and all of the above methods.  Believe me I tried everything multiple times!  An old salt at the club told me "that acid can't be stopped unless you boil it with baking soda.  I did and it cured the after rust.  It did turn the barrel a blackish color.  On the next rifle I stopped the browning by boiling just as I got full coverage and it was starting to get a good color.   Purdiest plum brown you ever seen although it has darkened to a brown over the 30 plus years.

YMMV